Saturday, March 25, 2017

The EU turns 60: anniversary of the Treaty of Rome

Photo Credit: A photo of the Treaty of Rome, signed in Rome on 25 of March 1957European Parliament News

Sixty years ago the leaders of the six founding member
states gathered in Rome to put their signatures under the agreements
that would create a European common market, but also pave the way for a
union of peace and prosperity that has come to encompass most of our
continent. Leading MEPs will join the anniversary celebrations in Rome
this weekend, while heads of state and government will use the
opportunity to deliberate on the next steps for the EU.

The Treaties of Rome were signed on 25 March 1957 by
representatives of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the
Netherlands. In two separate agreements, they agreed to establish a European Economic Community aiming to remove barriers to trade, and to foster cooperation in the use of atomic energy.

Economic integration, based on the removal of customs
duties among member states and the promotion of free movement of goods,
services, capital and people, proved such a success that more and more
countries in Europe expressed their wish to join in the following years.
Areas of cooperation broadened over time and this led to the creation
of the European Union. The treaty on establishing the European Economic
Community went through several updates and is now known as the Treaty on
the functioning of the EU. The EU: past and future

Parliament President Antonio Tajani, leaders of political
groups, vice-presidents and quaestors travel to Rome today to hold
meetings and take part in the celebrations over the weekend. Tajani will
sign a common EU declaration on the anniversary on behalf of
Parliament.

In recent weeks MEPs have been actively discussing how
the EU should evolve to respond to challenges such as migration,
economic imbalances and Brexit. MEPs adopted three reports on the future
of Europe during the February plenary. During March's plenary session MEPs also discussed a European Commission strategy paper setting out five scenarios for the EU. EU heads of state willl continue the debate in Rome.

During a ceremony
in Brussels earlier this week, Tajani said: “Europe is our freedom,
Europe is our future and that is what we should hand on to our children;
a future of prosperity, of peace and of freedom.” European Parliament NewsPhoto